Flue-stop holder



UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL VALTER, OF DALLAS CITY, ILLINOIS.

FLUE-STOP HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,300, dated November5, 1895. Application filed August 19, 1895. Serial No. 559,828. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL WALTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dallas City, in the county of Hancock and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Flue- Stop Holder, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to flue-Stoppers, and particularly to the means forretaining` the same in the flue, the object being to provide aninexpensive device that is readily adjustable to different widths anddepths of iiueopenings.

With this object in view my invention consists in the various detailsand combinations of parts hereinafter specified by description andclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvedflue-stopper, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof.

Numeral 1 designates the closing plate or cap of ordinary form, adaptedto project around and cover the stovepipe-hole or other iiue to which itis adjusted. This cap 1 is centrally apertured to receive adjusting-bolt2, which is provided on its outer end with nut 3 to permit the stopperto be adjusted after being placed in position against the flue. Adjacentto the inner face of cap 1 is a sti spring-bar 4L, bearing at either endagainst the inwardly-curved rim of said cap, thereby leaving a spacebetween cap 1 and bar 4. for spring action. Bar 4 is centrally threadedover bolt 2v and supports on its inner face the transverse portion 5 ofthe U-shaped retaining-spring 6, which is likewise threaded centrallyoverbolt 2. Spring 6 is bowed inwardly from bolt 2 at either end ofportion 5 and eX- tended in two resilient arms 7, slightly spread attheir outer ends', which are provided with laterally-outturnedretaining-flanges 8 to catch on the inner wall of the flue to hold cap 1in place. Bearing against the head of bolt 2 and perforated to receivesaid bolt is spring 9, provided with outwardly-bent wings 10 at eitherend and with a central depression 12, accommodated to the bolt-head.VThis spring 9 bears at either end againstthe outer ends of theinwardly-curved portion 5, tending to depress the same, and therebyserves to strengthen and stiffen the adjusted parts, as well as tospread arms 7. Stops 13 may be provided on the inner face of cap 1 toretain bar 4 and portion 5 in alignment.

The operation of my improved flue-stopper is simple. When it is desiredto stop a iiue, so as to prevent drafts or the falling out of soot orother dbris, arms 7 are pinched together to allow flanges 8 to enter thestovepipe-thimble. The cap is then gently pushed inwardly until iianges8' snap out against the inner wall of the flue and the cap abuts againstthe edges of the outer end of said flue. If the cap is loose, it may betightened by turning up nut 3, which brings wings 10 of spring 9 to bearagainst the curved portion 5, thereby tending to straighten the same outagainst bar a and to bend said bar 4L outwardly against the inner faceof cap 1, all of which tends to shorten the distance of the ianges 8from said.

cap, and hence to tighten the latter against the wall.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-- u 1. rlhe combination with a stopper plate or capcentrally perforated, of an inwardly eX- tending pair of resilientretaining arms laterally iianged at their ends and connected integrallywith an inwardly bowed middle portion centrally perforated, a springbowed outwardly to bear at either end against the inner face of saidmiddle portion, and also centrally perforated, and a bolt passingthrough said several perforations and provided at its outer end with atightening nut adapted to adjust said several parts, all substantiallyas described.

2. The combination with a stopper cap dished inwardly at its rim, of astraight spring bar adjacent thereto on the inner side and bearing ateither end against the outer curvature of said cap, a U-shaped resilientretaining member laterally flanged at its ends and provided with aninwardly bowed middle portion adjacent to thev inner face of said bar, aspring outwardly bowed and pressing against the inner side of saidmiddle portion at either end thereof, all said parts being Centrallyper- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as forated, and a boltprovided to pass through my own I have hereto affixed my signature inSaid perforzttions and provided with a nut on the presence of twowitnesses.

one end and a head at the other end, whereby SAMUEL VALTER. 5 saidretaining member may either be spread lVitnesses:

laterally oradj usted longitudinally relatively G. Il. HORN,

to the said cap, substantially als described. J. C. HORN.

